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    Edward Gibbons, Special to InterMat •

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    Springfield College joined elite 1000-win club

    Springfield's first wrestling team

    Tucked away in western Massachusetts is a college that boasts about being the birthplace of basketball. But on January 14, 2017, Springfield College could say their wrestling program is a member of the elite 1000-win club. After defeating Theil College, at the Bud Whitehill Duals, Springfield joined Oklahoma State, Iowa State, and Oregon State as the only programs in NCAA history to achieve 1000 dual meet victories. Over the course of Springfield's wrestling history, the school has competed in the College/University Division, NCAA Division II, and NCAA Division III.

    Springfield College first fielded a wrestling team during the 1914-15 season when the squad competed twice finishing 1-1. Seven men have served as head coaches at the college since the beginning with Doug Parker leading the program the longest, 35 years. Parker, who amassed 518 wins during his career, coached 1984 Olympic Greco Roman gold medalist, Jeff Blatnick. Parker is a member of the Div. II Wrestling Hall of Fame and in 1999 was recognized by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his dedication to wrestling. Springfield's current coach, former Boston University wrestler Jason Holder, is in his sixth year heading the program.

    Doug Parker with Jeff Blatnick
    While producing many great athletes during its 102-year history, the Springfield College wrestling program is also known for being the training ground of excellent coaches. Alumni that distinguished themselves as wrestling coaches include Rick Moyer, Wayland High School, Massachusetts, Matt Sansone, Locust Valley High School, New York, and Brian Crudden, Windham High School, Connecticut. Collectively these coaches garnered close to 1000 career victories. Sansone was the high school coach of Penn State's 1984 NCAA Champion, Carl DeStefanis. Current Winchester High School (Mass.) coach, Larry Tremblay, is a 1977 graduate of Springfield. The winningest coach in Massachusetts high school history, Tremblay is also a member of the Masachusetts Division of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Speaking about Springfield's 1000th victory Tremblay said, "We all want to win but at Springfield, most of us went there to learn how to coach. I am a member of a special fraternity of former Springfield wrestlers that have made their careers teaching and coaching." Following the path of other alumni, Springfield's 2014 Division III National Champion, Devin Biscaha, is coaching at Christiansburg High School in Virginia.

    College wrestling is on the rise with over 25 programs being added nationwide during the last several years. Mike Moyer, the executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association hopes that the new programs can also stand the test of time. "Springfield is a great example of how wrestling can support a college's mission. Hundreds of men not only wrestled for Springfield but after graduation made a positive mark in our society. All of us involved in developing college wrestling will be rooting for Springfield on their journey to win number 2000."
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